Softwood
Softwood is a type of wood that is cut from trees belonging to gymnosperms, such as coniferous trees. By contrast, hardwood typically comes from angiosperm, deciduous and broad-leaved trees. Trees that lose their leaves in the autumn, such as oak.
![]() |
![]() |
Softwood | Hardwood |
Softwood trees, such as pine, cedar, spruce, larch and fir, retain their leaves throughout the year and grow faster than hardwood.
Unlike hardwood, the microstructure of softwood trees does not include vessels, as their cells are open. This allows them to act as conduits, feeding nutrients and water through the tree. These open cells allow them to absorb things such as adhesives and finishes better.
Softwood provides around 80% of all timber, and is usually supplied in long, rectangular forms such as planks, posts and rails. Softwood is commonly used in construction, in the roof and inner walls structures, as well as in other building components such as fixtures and fittings, doors, and so on. It is also the main constituent of some man-made boards, such as medium density fibreboard.
Hardwood is typically used in furniture such as tables, chairs, chest drawers, and so on. It may also be used in applications such as window frames.
Though some softwoods are harder than hardwood (for example, balsa is a hardwood), softwood is generally less dense. This makes it easier to saw, plane, bore, nail, and so on.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- 11 things you didn't know about wood.
- Bamboo.
- Cedar.
- Cross-laminated timber.
- Decking boards.
- Glulam.
- Hardwood.
- Janka hardness rating scale.
- Lime wood.
- Laminated veneer lumber LVL.
- Panelling.
- Physical Properties of Wood.
- Pine leaves.
- Pine wood.
- Plywood.
- Sustainable materials.
- Testing timber.
- The differences between hardwood and softwood.
- Timber.
- Timber preservation.
- Timber vs wood.
- Types of timber.
- Walnut.
- Wrot timber.
Featured articles and news
ICE debate Public transport - post pandemic.
How has transport changed due to Covid-19 ?
Cross-ventilation in buildings. Do you have it ?
Will you need it ? after June 15 and the new Part O ?
Share your knowledge with the industry.
Create an account and write the first of many articles.
The green jobs delivery group.
CIAT commentary after the first meeting.
Liverpool's world heritage site status
Who is to blame?
Research recommends focussing on portfolio success rather than project success.
ICE and BSI launch revised PAS 128 standard.
The revised standard for mapping underground utilities.
Launching the UK net zero carbon buildings standard.
Cross-industry steering group seeks support in delivery.
How to write an inspection and test plan.
Help us update process pieces from your field.
APM report explores existing practice.
Previous reflections on mental health with CIAT.
COVID-19 and the importance of mental wellbeing.
IHBC accreditation recognised by CSCS
As Professionally Qualified Person (PQP).
The Queens speech; bill by bill for 2022.
In order of relevance and with industry responses.
Mental Health awareness week, May 9-15.
Raising awareness of the impacts of loneliness.
Rapidly renewable materials and construction.
The list is growing, and in more ways than one.
Personal experiences of infrastructure maintenance issues.
We shouldn’t build new, If we can’t maintain what's built.
Mass timber: challenges and potential solutions.
Timber Accelerator Hub phase 1 report